Declan Rice | Arsenal £105m player

[Lash]

What did he do that was so great or noteworthy this game?

My Arsenal supporting mate told me his pass accuracy as why he had his best game yet. I think they're trying to justify the price tag to themselves at this point.

 

[AshRK]

He is a terrific player, and another proper feck up by Utd not to get him when he would have given us 10 years of solid play to build around.

He would have been made to look like a bum here

 

[Leftback99]

He is a terrific player, and another proper feck up by Utd not to get him when he would have given us 10 years of solid play to build around.

Yep. Annoying how we don't do such obvious things.

 

[tinfish]

My Arsenal supporting mate told me his pass accuracy as why he had his best game yet. I think they're trying to justify the price tag to themselves at this point.

He's a tidy player and is consistent in pretty much every game he's played.

Unfortunately his performances are masked by how poor Arsenal have been this season compared to our explosiveness of last season.

 

[Daydreamer]

He's a tidy player and is consistent in pretty much every game he's played.

Unfortunately his performances are masked by how poor Arsenal have been this season compared to our explosiveness of last season.

Sevilla had the first shot deep into injury time. We also reduced City to their lowest number of shots since Guardiola’s arrival. You’re right that we’re far less explosive, but I don’t think we’ve been poor. We prioritising controlling games over our more fluent attacking from last season.

We’ve only started our first choice front line a single time this season. Once they get a run of games together, there’s a much better chance of recapturing the potent attack of last season.

 

[tinfish]

Sevilla had the first shot deep into injury time. We also reduced City to their lowest number of shots since Guardiola’s arrival. You’re right that we’re far less explosive, but I don’t think we’ve been poor. We prioritising controlling games over our more fluent attacking from last season.

We’ve only started our first choice front line a single time this season. Once they get a run of games together, there’s a much better chance of recapturing the potent attack of last season.

Our midfield is imbalanced. Jorginho is starting too many games. We don't play as good without Xhaka, although Partey would solve this problem but he's looking finished. Our striking force is not good enough. We are not a bad team, but we don't look to have kicked on compared to last season. Most Arsenal fans feel the title might be out of reach again this season. Oh, and our bench is poverty considering the money spent.

 

[GoonerGirly]

Our midfield is imbalanced. Jorginho is starting too many games. We don't play as good without Xhaka, although Partey would solve this problem but he's looking finished. Our striking force is not good enough. We are not a bad team, but we don't look to have kicked on compared to last season. Most Arsenal fans feel the title might be out of reach again this season. Oh, and our bench is poverty considering the money spent.

Our midfield is definitely imbalanced mainly due to Partey's long absence, but Rice is so good he's practically running the whole show, no matter who he plays with. I feel as long as Rice/Saliba/Gabriel are available, we'll be OK against most teams. I think making direct comparisons to last season is hard to do because of CL, and of course there were no expecations. We were also a surprise package, which helped especially early on. I think as the season progressed, teams figured us out a bit. I also think we peaked too early last season, while I feel we're simmering nicely so far. Defensively, I think this is the strongest we've been in many years. And that gives me quite a bit of confidence, though any title talk is very premature at this stage.

 

[Lash]

Our midfield is imbalanced. Jorginho is starting too many games. We don't play as good without Xhaka, although Partey would solve this problem but he's looking finished. Our striking force is not good enough. We are not a bad team, but we don't look to have kicked on compared to last season. Most Arsenal fans feel the title might be out of reach again this season. Oh, and our bench is poverty considering the money spent.

First bit is a bit harsh on yourselves, you're clearly a top team. You definitely haven't got any better overall though, which is a concern.

 

[BlueMoonOutcast]

I didn't want Rice at City and I don't see how he's improved Arsenal at all. He's getting hype for basic performances.

 

[CannonBalls]

I didn't want Rice at City and I don't see how he's improved Arsenal at all. He's getting hype for basic performances.

He consistently puts in good performances but very rarely a great one. He is a few tiers below Rodri so yes not sure how that would have worked at City.
But then again Rice is a very unique profile. He has made our defence much better and he is one of the best ball carrier which even I am surprised how well he has done. So surely Pep could fit him somehow in that jigsaw and utilise them. He could ideally play both the Stones role and even the Rodris role and who knows with his unique profile Pep could have created an different role for him altogether.

 

[Rooney in Paris]

I didn't want Rice at City and I don't see how he's improved Arsenal at all. He's getting hype for basic performances.

Don't say it too loud, you'll have the Arsenal contingent justifying the transfer with buzzwords like consistency, leadership and pass accuracy.

 

[Mogget]

Don't say it too loud, you'll have the Arsenal contingent justifying the transfer with buzzwords like consistency, leadership and pass accuracy.

Luckily we have you here to police Arsenal fans' opinions of Rice.

 

[GoonerBear]

Don't say it too loud, you'll have the Arsenal contingent justifying the transfer with buzzwords like consistency, leadership and pass accuracy.

I mean there's no real agenda here even if you think there is. Rice has been very good for us, and most are very happy with him.

Havertz performances has ranged from average to basically fairly non existent. We don't mind criticising when criticism is due.

 

[Donaldo]

Don't say it too loud, you'll have the Arsenal contingent justifying the transfer with buzzwords like consistency, leadership and pass accuracy.

Why would/should supporters justify transfers that are clearly insane if you look at it as part of the 'real world'? Almost 90% of the transfers any big club makes are batshit crazy, and the common supporter can have absolutely no justification for it.

We can however appreciate an obviously good player (or criticise when required) without getting dragged and re-dragged by shit stirrers into farcical discussions on the amount paid for him.

 

[GledTheRed]

He's a steady Eddie with shit banter

 

[Rooney in Paris]

Why would/should supporters justify transfers that are clearly insane if you look at it as part of the 'real world'? Almost 90% of the transfers any big club makes are batshit crazy, and the common supporter can have absolutely no justification for it.

We can however appreciate an obviously good player (or criticise when required) without getting dragged and re-dragged by shit stirrers into farcical discussions on the amount paid for him.

Don't think many really talk about his tag price. I think there's a general consensus it's absolutely bonkers and he isn't worth that much, in any variation of the metaverse. That's a strawman.

 

[Lost bear]

I mean there's no real agenda here even if you think there is. Rice has been very good for us, and most are very happy with him.

Havertz performances has ranged from average to basically fairly non existent. We don't mind criticising when criticism is due.

There is a certain vacancy about Havertz, I feel.

 

[Mb194dc]

Who pays £100m for a DM ? Crazy money for a glorified David Batty.

Yes, we've done similar with Caicedo.

 

[Egalitard]

He is a terrific player, and another proper feck up by Utd not to get him when he would have given us 10 years of solid play to build around.

This, basically - I said in here at the time of transfer that this is exactly the kind of signing United used to make.

I am surprised there are still doubters in here. Even if Arsenal haven't been firing on all cylinders, Rice has been consistently one of our best players. He won the game against United and dragged us back in for a point against Chelsea. He digs in, wins the ball, doesn't panic and makes sensible passing decisions. Tremendous physically and mentally. There is a reason City wanted him too - he's really good.

 

[GoonerGirly]

This, basically - I said in here at the time of transfer that this is exactly the kind of signing United used to make.

I am surprised there are still doubters in here. Even if Arsenal haven't been firing on all cylinders, Rice has been consistently one of our best players. He won the game against United and dragged us back in for a point against Chelsea. He digs in, wins the ball, doesn't panic and makes sensible passing decisions. Tremendous physically and mentally. There is a reason City wanted him too - he's really good.

Yeh I had doubts considering the price etc but he has allayed all my fears. He is every bit the midfield general and leader you want in your team, and can still improve. His physicality is next level, I chuckled when poor Soumare in the Sevilla game tried to win the ball/foul him and ended up hurting himself after just coming on. He doesn't look particularly fast but is so strong and powerful when he carries the ball.

 

[tomaldinho1]

This, basically - I said in here at the time of transfer that this is exactly the kind of signing United used to make.

I am surprised there are still doubters in here. Even if Arsenal haven't been firing on all cylinders, Rice has been consistently one of our best players. He won the game against United and dragged us back in for a point against Chelsea. He digs in, wins the ball, doesn't panic and makes sensible passing decisions. Tremendous physically and mentally. There is a reason City wanted him too - he's really good.

Think a lot of people don't really get if he's made you better overall. You seem unanimous he has but most outsiders think you look weaker than last season - yes you might be more defensively solid but you weren't exactly bad last season, especially when you think you had a real downturn end of season which makes your GA look worse than it would have been without big injuries. I guess we'll see end of season but I think you'll draw too many games with the current setup, it seems a bit too risk adverse and reliant on Saka.

 

[Gordon Godot]

Think a lot of people don't really get if he's made you better overall. You seem unanimous he has but most outsiders think you look weaker than last season - yes you might be more defensively solid but you weren't exactly bad last season, especially when you think you had a real downturn end of season which makes your GA look worse than it would have been without big injuries. I guess we'll see end of season but I think you'll draw too many games with the current setup, it seems a bit too risk adverse and reliant on Saka.

Would have loved to see Rice here, he's a great player and will be excellent for Arsenal for years. Arsenal have a few issues especially up front Rice is not the problem.

 

[Egalitard]

Think a lot of people don't really get if he's made you better overall. You seem unanimous he has but most outsiders think you look weaker than last season - yes you might be more defensively solid but you weren't exactly bad last season, especially when you think you had a real downturn end of season which makes your GA look worse than it would have been without big injuries. I guess we'll see end of season but I think you'll draw too many games with the current setup, it seems a bit too risk adverse and reliant on Saka.

Whether we are better or not will probably not be fully understood until the end of the season, but I think it should be remembered that Rice is just one piece of the picture. Other player movement has happened. Xhaka has left, Havertz has joined and we've got a new goalkeeper too. The toss can be argued as to what extent any of those are good things, but I don't think that should get in the way of the assessment of Rice as a player. Personally! Take your point though.

 

[Taribo's Gap]

This, basically - I said in here at the time of transfer that this is exactly the kind of signing United used to make.

I am surprised there are still doubters in here. Even if Arsenal haven't been firing on all cylinders, Rice has been consistently one of our best players. He won the game against United and dragged us back in for a point against Chelsea. He digs in, wins the ball, doesn't panic and makes sensible passing decisions. Tremendous physically and mentally. There is a reason City wanted him too - he's really good.

I'm not sure this is a good thing. That may be true enough, but I'm not sure Rice of this season is at the level of Odegaard, Saliba, Saka, Martinelli or even Partey when they were flying last season and Jesus is questionable. This is not even really a knock on Rice; those players just performed really well last season. I still think it was a good move, given Partey's availability issues and occasional defensive lapses. Rice's durability, availability, tenacity and consistency are quite valuable in that regard. I actually thought, goal notwithstanding, that Chelsea was one of his poorer games, whereas Newcastle was one of his better games.

City might have made it work, but from what I see he would have looked a little out of place in that midfield. He's not great at quick, short passing, dribbling in close quarters, progressive passing or constantly moving to show for the ball and keep it ticking. It's a bit weird because he is constantly flailing his arms as if to ask for the ball, but he's not great at actually moving to make himself available for a pass and showing for the ball. He seems to saunter when the team has the ball and switch on and spring to life when possession is lost. He also does not appear great in tight spaces, which City faces a lot. Watch a highlight of Partey from last season and you will see a range of little tricks, jinks, shimmies and turns to get out of tight spaces and progress the ball.

Right now he appears to get a lot of space and time on the ball because he is not much of a threat on the ball. His marauding runs look good, but they rarely amount to much in the way of actual danger in the final third. Both of his goals this season have been really valuable, but also on the fluky side. If he adds a more consistent long shot threat from around the 18 to 20 yard range, it would help to open up space for others as defenses would have to account for it, even if he doesn't score a lot of goals from that range. I think he probably has this in his locker. Most immediately he can look to consistently add a real long shot threat and improve his weight of pass to provide the type of pass from a deeper position that Jorginho gave to Saka to unlock the first goal versus Sevilla to his game.

 

[Egalitard]

Player of the match again today. Is there a single aspect of his game in which he's been underwhelming? I'm delighted with him.

 

[Gene Loblaw]

Player of the match again today. Is there a single aspect of his game in which he's been underwhelming? I'm delighted with him.

Yeah. He’s not amazing with through balls or creativity but that’s not anything that was expected of him. I’ve been thoroughly impressed with his technique, passing and first touch. His ability to recycle the ball around the box is excellent. And he’s pretty damn good at carrying the ball forward as well. He’s not the clumsy defensive oaf that some people thought he’d be at all. Very good player

 

[Righteous Steps]

He’s a top player not worth the money he cost but few better midfielders in the league and Europe at this moment.

 

[GoonerGirly]

He’s a top player not worth the money he cost but few better midfielders in the league and Europe at this moment.

This seems a bit contradictory..wouldn't you expect to pay top dollar for one of the best players in his position?

Anyway, he's so consistent, I don't think he's had below a 7/10 performance for us yet. So assured on the ball too, rarely do I get nervous he'll lose it cheaply. And if he does, he has the power and physicality to usually recover.

 

[Ekeke]

He’s a top player not worth the money he cost but few better midfielders in the league and Europe at this moment.

Its hard for someone to be worth £86 million especially a DM, but Arsenal are currently top of the table and hes been in their best 2 or 3 players. If thats the case by the end of the season with Arsenal winning the title there would need to be another conversation about how much he was worth.

What I can say without hesitation is that hes clearly the player who would have been ideal for our midfield and those that didnt think he was a good enough player have been thoroughly proven wrong

Arsenal have conceded 10 goals in 13 matches, best defensive record in the league

 

[owlo]

This seems a bit contradictory..wouldn't you expect to pay top dollar for one of the best players in his position?

Anyway, he's so consistent, I don't think he's had below a 7/10 performance for us yet. So assured on the ball too, rarely do I get nervous he'll lose it cheaply. And if he does, he has the power and physicality to usually recover.

Yea, he feels like the sort of player who'll play 5 seasons consistently well at 7/10 without missing a beat, so is worth every penny in this market. Who knows if he has another gear; even if he doesn't he'll still be a valuable part of a top squad long term.

 

[GoonerGirly]

Arsenal have conceded 10 goals in 13 matches, best defensive record in the league

Who would have thunk it aye - not too long ago we were woeful defensively and so easy to play through. Arteta has made us very difficult to beat and if Rice/Saiba/Gabriel are available for most of the season, I think we'll give City a run for their money.

Yea, he feels like the sort of player who'll play 5 seasons consistently well at 7/10 without missing a beat, so is worth every penny in this market. Who knows if he has another gear; even if he doesn't he'll still be a valuable part of a top squad long term.

He's only 24 so I think he'll get better. Arteta also seems to want to play him a bit further forward, though his best position is definitely at 6.

 

[Righteous Steps]

This seems a bit contradictory..wouldn't you expect to pay top dollar for one of the best players in his position?

Anyway, he's so consistent, I don't think he's had below a 7/10 performance for us yet. So assured on the ball too, rarely do I get nervous he'll lose it cheaply. And if he does, he has the power and physicality to usually recover.

No he’s a top player but don’t think any DM is worth 105m, maybe Rodri at a stretch.

 

[Righteous Steps]

Its hard for someone to be worth £86 million especially a DM, but Arsenal are currently top of the table and hes been in their best 2 or 3 players. If thats the case by the end of the season with Arsenal winning the title there would need to be another conversation about how much he was worth.

What I can say without hesitation is that hes clearly the player who would have been ideal for our midfield and those that didnt think he was a good enough player have been thoroughly proven wrong

Arsenal have conceded 10 goals in 13 matches, best defensive record in the league

Youre right but they had similar start to the season last year with Xhaka and Partey, Rice is a good signing but I don’t think he’s the difference between them winning the league or not.

And I thought it was £105m, 86 seems far more reasonable.

 

[Ekeke]

Youre right but they had similar start to the season last year with Xhaka and Partey, Rice is a good signing but I don’t think he’s the difference between them winning the league or not.

And I thought it was £105m, 86 seems far more reasonable.

Im going by transfermarkt which has 100 million euros, which is currently £86 million

Theres probably add ons etc, I was just looking for an actual number to refer to rather than speculation

 

[heraklion]

great player, but isn't worth the price tag.

 

[bosnian_red]

great player, but isn't worth the price tag.

Price tag at a certain point is irrelevant if it's a position of need, the player is at a good age and will give you 5+ elite years and you'll never see them as a reason for holding you back if you aren't winning the trophies.

 

[oneniltothearsenal]

Price tag at a certain point is irrelevant if it's a position of need, the player is at a good age and will give you 5+ elite years and you'll never see them as a reason for holding you back if you aren't winning the trophies.

Exactly. It's a shame so much discussion is reduced to just the transfer fee. One thing I noticed about my friends who follow the NFL is they don't really discuss the cost of a player when evaluating them. Maybe it's the lack of transfer fees and people just don't keep up with wages (in the NFL or football) the same way we do with transfer fees, but its nice to hear debates on players that don't always come back to the transfer fee. If Rice doesn't face injury problems, then I think his transfer fee will be pretty irrelevant when we look back on his career.

 

[CannonBalls]

Im going by transfermarkt which has 100 million euros, which is currently £86 million

Theres probably add ons etc, I was just looking for an actual number to refer to rather than speculation

We paid 100m pounds and 5m in easily achievable addons. Practically 105m.
City made us overpay a good 10m but its ok if he keeps performing the way he is for all season.

 

[ayushreddevil9]

Excellent signing for Arsenal.

 

[captain666]

Excellent signing for Arsenal.

Indeed he is and will continue to improve for Club and Country, if he had joined United he would immediately turn into a bad Garner!